Advocacy

Advocating for Science and Research Funding

NAVBO encourages you to advocate for science and research. On this page, we will keep you informed of critical actions being taken that will impact the scientific community and actions you can take. Through our membership with Research!America and other advocay sources, we hope to bring you up to date information.

Contacting Your Representatives Can Make a Difference for Science

If you are a U.S. citizen, let your U.S. representatives hear from you and encourage them to be advocating for science. There are many methods by which to reach out - from attending meetings or personal visits to congressional offices, to doing something as simple as writing a postcard. Be sure to reach out to your district and state representatives. Now, in addition to funding the NIH budget and other federal biomedical research budgets, scientists must clearly express how other policies impact scientific collaboration, a key component in the scientific process.

A report from United for Medical Research recently released a report on the impact of the NIH on US economy. Download the report.

If you are aware of other groups, please let us know and we will post them here (send to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

From Research!AmericaMay 10, 2019

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley May 10, 2019

Dear Research Advocate,

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee passed the Fiscal Year 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill. While there is great news in the bill, it must be considered in the grim context of the across the board cuts that will happen if Congress doesnot act to raise the budget caps. Our statement addresses both the good and bad news.

The bill, which Congressional leadership is expected to bring to the House floor in June, includes more than $8.25 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over $41 billion for the National Institutes of Health, and $358 million for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Those funding levels amount to increases of, when compared to FY2019, $1 billion for the CDC, $2 billion for the NIH, and $20 million for AHRQ, respectively.

The Senate has yet to begin work on its version and the two chambers will need to come to an agreement after that. But — and, again, this is critical to stress — for any positivefinal outcome to occur, Congress must take action to raise the spending caps across the federal government. Use our action center to weigh in now!

On Wednesday, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee held a hearing at which Dr. France Córdova, Director of NSF, and Dr. Diane Souvaine, Chairwoman of the National Science Board, testified. Dr. Córdova’s opening statement highlighted the “convergence accelerator” – a new initiative focussed on high-risk, high-rewardthinking to accelerate innovation and achieve rapid lab to market outcomes. Dr. Souvaine discussed the need for diversity in STEM, pointing out that America doesn’t lead with dollars alone. We must show aspiring young scientists in this nation and worldwidewhat a healthy research environment looks like.

Also addressing the research environment, the White House National Science and Technology Council announced the formation of a joint committee to address barriers to research in the U.S., including integrity issues, inclusive and equitable settings for research, and the protection of American research assets. Office of Science and Technology Policy(OSTP) Director Kelvin Droegemeier said “Our Nation’s continued global leadership in science and technology depends upon attracting, empowering, and retaining our best and brightest talent...It’s critical we remove any obstacles in the way of the scientists,engineers, and inventors of today and tomorrow, achieving their full potential.”

Research!America, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Association of American Universities (AAU), and the Society for Neuroscience (SFN) are partnering on a briefing looking at the future of the Bayh-Dole Act, the landmark law that established a framework for “tech transfer.” Join us on June 13, 2019 for a networking coffee and briefing, starting at 9:30am. The event will also be livestreamed. Contact Sara Chang (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to register.

The Hon. John Porter, Research!America Chair Emeritus and former Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, was Council honored today at NIH. A display case underscoring his legacy was unveiled at the John Edward Porter Neuroscience Research Center. In saluting Porter, NIH Director Francis Collins noted his extraordinary support for NIH, including securing early pivotal funding for the Human Genome Project. The building truly epitomizes a state of the art environment for research.

Time flies! The deadline to submit a nomination for one of Research!America’s 2020 Advocacy Awards is only one week away! Act now to nominate those you want to recognize for outstanding advocacy leadership. The awards will be presented at our awards event next March.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaApril 4, 2019

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley April 4, 2019

Dear Research Advocate,

Yesterday, the House Budget Committee approved (on a party-line vote, 19-17) legislation that would raise the fiscal year 2020 (FY20) non-defense discretionary (NDD) spending cap by $631 billion, a 5.7 percent increase over the 2019 cap, and raise the defense cap by $664 billion, a 2.6 percent increase. The House is expected to consider the legislation on the floor early next week.

The fact that legislation to raise the caps is being considered signals important progress. Our science-focused Raise the Caps campaign and other individual and collaborative advocacy efforts like that of NDD United are pushing hard for action, because -- as Senate Appropriations Chair, Richard Shelby (R- AL) warned earlier this week -- failing to act now puts us on the path to “stopgaps” (keep in mind that because of the budget caps, stopgap measures come with deep, across-the-board cuts!)

House Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey is using the #RaiseTheCaps hashtag. The first run of Raise the Caps digital ads in online and print news publications Washington Examiner, Washington Post, Politico, and The Hill garnered nearly 1.7 million impressions! Social media engagement is ramping up as well. Further reach and impact ultimately depends on you; it’s time to act. Here are ways you can help. One particularly important and quick step: sign and share the petition with your networks! Three minutes of your time will make a difference.

As you know, debate over “topline” budget numbers does not preclude the basic appropriations process from moving forward. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC)are circulating a sign-on letter in support of robust funding for NIH in FY20. If you missed yesterday’s action alert enabling easy outreach to your Senators encouraging them to add their name to this letter, there’s still time! (If you didn’t receive the action alert email, please contact Ellie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we’ll make sure you receive them in the future). Research!America also sent a note to each member of the Senate encouraging their participation.

A new report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) makes the case for greatly increased funding for NIH. On Tuesday, April 9, there will be a panel discussion about the report, featuring Research!America board member Dr. Sudip Parikh. More information here.

More on funding: CDC, steward of the US public health system, is dramatically under-resourced considering the weight of its responsibilities and the magnitude of the public health threats we face. It’s National Public Health Week (NPHW)and now is the time to urge your elected representatives to do more to combat our nation’s public health challenges by assuring CDC is fully-funded at $7.8B in fiscal year 2020. Use our CDC fact sheet to make the case!

CDC is one of the key agencies working to combat the opioid crisis. As Research!America board member Alan Leshner so compellingly argued in a recent Science editorial, overcoming this threat will require “science-based, integrated strategies,” combined with a large dose of common sense. Alan describes “the insidious ideology and stigma that have long surrounded the issue of drug use and addiction,” despite the large body of scientific evidence establishing addiction as a medical condition that can be treated.

In past letters, I’ve discussed how important it is for scientists and advocates to play an active role in disempowering misinformation (where the seeds of stigma so oftenlie). At a conference this week, I learned about combating the phenomenon called the “continued influence effect” or CIE, which is the tendency of misinformation to linger, even in the face of facts. Research in CIE shows that we as a science and advocacy community can help guide conversations back to science-based fact and dispel misinformation by offering an alternativenarrative and affirming shared values like fairness and compassion. Check out this National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) resource for insights and inspiration!

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaOctober 25, 2018

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley October 25, 2018

Dear Research Advocate,

Last week, the White House laid out its plan for all Cabinet departments to trim their proposed FY20 budgets by 5%. If, as anticipated, these cuts begin with the FY20 spending caps signed into law in 2011 (so-called ‘sequestration’), rather than actual FY19 budgets, the proposed cuts could be shockingly deep—in the 25% range. The potential impact on the NIH budget alone could be a cut of $9.77B, wiping out the increases of the last few years to the point of returning to 2013 funding levels and, when adjusting for inflation, 2001 spending power. Other agencies could take equivalent hits, compromising progress in achieving health goals and sending a clear message to young scientists: find another career.

The President’s budget, as clear as it may be as a statement of executive branch philosophy and priorities, is not binding. It is actually the new Congress that will write the final FY20 budget and determine whether our nation finally ends the twice-suspended excise tax on medical technologies. These are two of the many ways the midterms will influence the future of U.S. R&D. So who will be in the new Congress, with what research-relevant implications? Join the conversation at Research!America’s post-election briefing on Thursday, November 8, 2018 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. EST at AAAS (1200 New York Ave, NW in Washington, DC). Register here!

Yesterday, the President signed a sweeping, bipartisan opioid package containing dozens of initiatives, including ramped-up efforts to find non-addictive pain treatments. All hands are on deck—including the Department of Energy and the Department of Veterans Affairs, partnering on a project that is deploying a powerful supercomputer to better understand how genes, and networks of genes, may contribute to the risk for substance abuse.

A new research study from the RAND Corporation finds that adolescents who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke cigarettes and more likely to increase their use of both products over time. This report comes on the heels of the FDA’s launch of “The Real Cost” Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign, which aims to educate adolescents, including the 10 million youth ages 12 to 17 who have or are open to using e-cigarettes, about their risks.

Addressing tobacco-related health risks and curbing opioid addiction speak to the diverse and complex challenges public health officials face every day. Please join us in raising awareness on Public Health Thank You Day, which will take place on November 19. Email Matt at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to become a partner in this annual event.

A new Pew survey asks individuals to distinguish between factual and opinion statements. Overall, only 26% were able to correctly classify all factual statements as such, and 35% were able to accurately classify all opinion statements. Of interest is that younger people (ages 18-49) perform better than older (50+) at classifying both the factual (32% vs. 20%) and opinion (44% vs. 26%) statements. Clearly, though, these percentages are far, far too low.

Researchers and advocates can help improve these statistics by committing to public engagement, communicating what new scientific findings mean and what inferences can and cannot be drawn from them. Carrying a certain genetic marker, for example, may be just one of several factors that influence the risk of developing a particular disease. A compelling article from the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) offers a clear example of how science can be misinterpreted in a way that is both inaccurate and harmful, and why it is critical to clearly explain the promise and limitations of new research findings and methodologies.

Finally, as you ready your costumes for trick-or-treating, did you know that in 2017, Americans spent $9.1 billion on Halloween? That is enough to fund the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for almost 20 years! Our nation can afford more research for health; check out “Research Takes Cents” on our website for other eye-opening comparisons.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaSeptember 5, 2018

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley September 5, 2018

Dear Research Advocate,

Research!America’s annual health research forum, “Straight Talk,” will kick off tomorrow, Thursday, September 6, at 10:15 AM EST at the Newseum in Washington, DC. I am sending this week’s letter a day early to ensure that you have the link to the livestream, since we are at full capacity in the room. Featuring HHS Secretary Alex Azar II and a host of other national leaders in the research and public health arenas, the goal of the forum is to foster candid discussion and seed new thinking around topics that are front and center in research and innovation. Be sure to listen in!

The House returned from August recess yesterday and opted to “fast-track” the Labor-H/Defense spending bills (inclusive of funding for NIH, CDC and AHRQ) by going to conference with the Senate-passed bills. However, it appears that the funding package for State-Foreign Ops/Homeland Security/CJS (where NSF is housed) is mired in controversies around the 2020 census and funding for the border wall. We’ve heard rumors that a CR (“flat-funding”) for these agencies will be rolled into the Labor-H/Defense minibus. Even a limited CR can seriously impact advances in science and innovation, particularly one in which NSF, NASA and other science agencies are affected. Please take a moment to tweet your congressional representatives on the importance of completing all FY19 appropriations on time.

There are many reasons for scientists to engage the public, but if the goal is to increase awareness and support, imparting knowledge may be less compelling than sparking curiosity. That’s the conclusion of a short essay in The Conversation last week. University of Pennsylvania Postdoctoral fellow Matthew Motta reviewed survey data to test this theory, which is supported by other social sciences research, as well. Motta concludes that sparking curiosity to overcome a ‘motivational deficit’ is more determinative of increased public support for science than is providing information to overcome a ‘knowledge deficit.’

Speaking of topics that engage feelings, I hope you’ll mark your calendars now for two upcoming alliance member meetings/calls. On Friday, September 14 at 11:00 AM EST we’ll convene with special guests Joel White and Catherine Pugh from the Health IT Coalition to discuss how to expand access to health data for research purposes. On Thursday, October 11 at 1:00 PM EST we’ll be joined by Rob Smith and Kim Monk of Capital Alpha Partners to review the Trump Administration’s drug pricing proposals, as well as those receiving the most attention in Congress. As usual, we’ll also discuss the state of play on appropriations and other research-relevant issues. More info on both meetings in next week’s letter.

This Friday, September 7, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is partnering with Stand Up To Cancer for its 2018 fundraising special. The telecast, which will begin at 8 PM EST and PST and 7 PM CST, will mark 10 years since the first telecast and showcase a decade of research achievements in the fight against cancer. More on the program can be found here.

AACR is extra-busy this time of year -- next week is the Rally for Medical Research, September 12 and 13. The Rally regularly attracts hundreds of advocates from across the country for meetings on Capitol Hill in support of increased funding for NIH. More info here.

Also coming up soon and also engaging -- on September 13 the annual Golden Goose Award Ceremony will be held. Countering the tendency of some members of Congress to malign research projects based on some “cosmetic” feature rather than their actual significance, these awards honor federally funded research that, at first blush, may seem frivolous, but is actually high impact. More info here.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaFebruary 15, 2018

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley February 15, 2018

Dear Research Advocate,

I write tonight’s letter grieving for the Parkside, Florida victims’ families and all those touched by yesterday’s shooting. Americans should feel safe to gather at a concert, go to work, go to school, and live our lives without fear of gun violence. Sadly, as I have noted too many times before, (see this post-Las Vegas weekly letter and statement post Orlando), our nation’s leaders are failing to act. We urge that this time be different.

President Trump has decried the tragedy and announced a trip to Parkside. HHS Secretary Azar asserted before Congress that gun violence research will (finally) go forward again at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Surgeon General Jerome Adams is calling for a cross-sector effort to prevent gun violence. As advocates, our role is to ensure these statements translate into action.

The President’s Budget was released on Monday. Despite language suggesting alignment with last week’s bipartisan deal that raised the budget caps, the president’s proposal instead backtracks, funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) at FY17 levels, dramatically underfunding the CDC (see the relevant editorial from today’s Post and Courier), and neglecting other key health and science agencies. Further, the Administration proposes incorporating the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and several other HHS agencies into NIH, the reasoning behind these changes unclear and the funding insufficient.

When it comes to AHRQ, as I argued in an interview with The Scientist, the proposed organizational change will not help combat our nation’s health and fiscal challenges. If AHRQ were funded at three times its current budget, that would only amount to $3.00 per American per year to identify much needed ways to fix our broken health care delivery system. You can read more in Research!America’s statement on the budget.

One positive element of the president’s proposal is support for heightening the nation’s efforts to address opioid addiction and unmet mental health needs. On this point, he is aligned with public demand and the intent of the Congress. Another bright spot is a robust increase for systems improvements at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

As is the norm in recent years, the president’s budget includes a variety of legislative proposals outside the appropriations arena. Among them are several that target federal prescription drug spending. As is also typical of recent budgets, these proposals are extreme in nature (e.g. one-drug-per-class formularies), and are unlikely to gain traction in Congress.

While informative as a statement of Administration priorities, the president’s budget is a proposal, not a mandate. Congress can (and typically does) go its own way.

Research!America sent a letter this week to congressional and appropriations committee leaders thanking them for raising the budget caps and urging them to deploy the resulting funding flexibility in FY18 to speed medical and public health progress. And, consistent with our joint #Raisethecaps ad campaign, we organized a letter from the CEOs of 25 prominent science organizations making the case for greater federal investment in R&D across all the agencies that support and conduct it. Take a moment to reinforce either or both of these complementary asks, using these editable emails.

Today we held a Research!America alliance member meeting to discuss the president’s FY19 budget and other salient advocacy topics. A thank you to special guests from PCORI Greg Martin and Andrew Hu, who provided a terrific overview of the Institute’s exciting work. Alliance members will receive a recap of the meeting shortly.

President’s Day is coming up on Monday. One of those we honor is President Abraham Lincoln, who famously commented that “public sentiment is everything; without it, nothing is possible; with it, anything is possible.” Support for science, like all else, depends upon the good opinion of the public. A new report from the American Academies of Arts and Sciences reviews the current state of public perception. It’s mixed news; check out the findings here.

Please join us as Research!America invites our member organizations to join the Board of Directors for our 2018 Annual Meeting and luncheon on Wednesday, March 14, noon–2:00 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C. The meeting will feature a keynote address by House Science Committee Ranking Member, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and a panel discussion on the latest developments in mental health research.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaJanuary 25, 2018

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley January 25, 2018

Dear Research Advocate,

Wake-up news this week: the U.S. has dropped out of the top ten on the list of “innovative countries” (see Bloomberg Innovation Index.) Also: for the first time, China is producing more scientific publications than the U.S. and recently released data from the National Science Board indicate that China is on track to overtake the U.S. in government investment in science research and development in two years or less.

Meanwhile, among budget priorities, U.S. investment in R&D is treated like an afterthought -- with a broken budget system to boot. The fact that critically important government functions are in a “state of suspended animation,” as Ellie put it in a recent Hill article, is an excellent reason to speak out if you have not yet done so, and to speak out again, if you already have (our “How to be an Advocate” page can show you how.)

Here’s a recap of the state of play: the current continuing resolution (CR) flat funds the government until February 8. (Thanks to advocacy, the CR does suspend the medical device tax - a welcome development.) To prevent another shutdown, Congress must either pass another temporary CR or a final budget. In addition to the enormous immigration issues at stake, the debt ceiling showdown may be thrown into the mix as budget decisions are made. So what’s the most likely scenario? My admittedly murky crystal ball predicts that Congress will pass a fifth temporary CR that will raise the caps and increase the debt ceiling, paving the way, finally, for a final FY18 budget. This would be progress, if not yet a resolution.

The Senate has confirmed Alex Azar to become the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. As I mentioned in a previous letter, the new Secretary will be under pressure to address drug prices. If that’s the goal, the best path entails maximizing the return on the health care dollars we spend and defeating the diseases that drive that spending. There is no room anywhere in the healthcare continuum for bad actors who price gouge or in other ways cheat patients and taxpayers, but there is far more room for seeding and incentivizing life- and cost-saving medical (and health care!) innovation.

President Trump has extended the declaration establishing the opioid epidemic as a public health emergency, through April 23. The declaration, however, is not nearly enough. Each day, 116 Americans die from their addiction. Journalist Sam Quinones’ exceptional written testimony to the Senate HELP Committee highlights some of the actions that must be taken to address this crisis, including greater investment in addiction and pain research and expanding the use of medically assisted treatments. As we argue in a January 24 letter to President Trump and congressional leadership, research gaps are a major obstacle to actionable solutions. Consult our opioid addiction fact sheet for more information on the scope of this crisis and the power of research to play a big role in facing it down.

Back to the wake-up call. Is there anything scientists can do to ensure policymakers answer that call? It starts with public engagement! Last week, I visited Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, SD, and the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). What these research institutions have in common includes partnership with Research!America, a track record of excellence in the conduct of innovative research and strong, effective public outreach programs that touch residents of their states in many ways, building relationships, a talent pipeline, and public support for medical and health research.

A researcher at JABSOM told me me he believes his outreach to the non-science public, including elected officials, is a sort of scientific civic responsibility, ‘like jury duty.’ If a K-12 teacher in Hawaii requests a visit for their class or a speaker, JABSOM meets every request. In South Dakota and adjoining states, Sanford delivers quality public outreach, with an extraordinary PROMISE program for K-12 and additional programs for the general public. Their innovative CoRDS program is a rapidly growing international patient registry for all rare diseases.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaJanuary 18, 2018

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley January 18, 2018

Dear Research Advocate,

It’s “deja vu all over again” -- the current continuing resolution (CR) is set to expire tomorrow (January 19) at midnight. It may go to the wire, but Congress will likely pass a fourth CR to keep the government running until February 16.

Last year, CRs dragged on and on until May 5! These serial deadlines are increasingly used as leverage by both sides of the aisle to push for legislative priorities, and thus it is increasingly difficult to pass a budget in a timely fashion. Still, a CR is far, far better than a government shutdown, which shortchanges the American public in many ways and can trigger serious and long-lasting effects on public health. Here is a good review of the budget state of play (at least as of this writing) and the implications of a shutdown.

The pending CR includes another two-year suspension of the medical device tax (repeal is still the goal, but a pause is important), as well as additional funding for CHIP and several other key public health programs (thankfully, not paid for by raiding the Prevention and Public Health Fund). However, the bill neither raises the budget caps, nor shores up science funding.Thus the drumbeat of the #RaisetheCaps advocacy and grassroots campaign continues.

The #RaisetheCaps campaign has driven huge social media engagement, with over 1 million impressions on Twitter alone on the first day of the initiative. I remain confident that if stakeholders continue to push for a budget deal that raises the caps, a deal will be struck. The most likely scenario is that higher spending levels will be incorporated into an omnibus bill that is signed into law before the next CR expires. Check out our letter to Congressional Appropriations Leadership reinforcing our agency funding requests for FY18.

It was not so long ago that fighting for higher caps was considered ambitious at best, a fool’s errand at worst. Now policymakers on both sides of the aisle are treating it as unfinished business. Our collective efforts have helped evolve those dynamics. Research!America’s VP of Communications Suzanne Ffolkes addressed the need for heightened advocacy in a relevant Chemical and Engineering News piece. We applaud the work of our advocacy partners, including Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation President Claire Pomeroy’s op-ed on the power of medical research.

Speaking of the power of research, we’re honored to announce that Dr. Atul Gawande, renowned surgeon, public health researcher and prolific author, whose work has vastly lifted the profile of health systems research, will receive the Isadore Rosenfeld Award for Impact on Public Opinion at Research!America’s Advocacy Awards Dinner on March 14. He joins a stellar group of honorees, including former Congressman John Edward Porter. John’s leadership in advocacy for medical, health and scientific research has fueled progress to the profound benefit of patients, their loved ones, and us all. For more details about the event and honorees, please visit www.researchamerica.org/advocacy_awards.

Uncertainty continues regarding changes to the Common Rule, which provides protection of human volunteers participating in research. The regulation effectuating these changes was put on hold during a government wide review of all federal regulatory policies. Subsequently, a number of stakeholders requested a delay in the compliance date to permit the necessary systems changes. There is more to this story, but the bottom line is the Trump Administration delayed both the effective date and the compliance date by six months. There is a possibility that the Administration will pursue additional or different changes to the Common Rule during this period of time, but our understanding is that major revisions are unlikely. Research!America alliance member, the American Medical Informatics Association, released a press statement providing a valuable summary of key changes in the rule. We will continue to monitor developments closely and keep you updated.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaDecember 7, 2017

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley December 7, 2017

Dear Research Advocate,

Today the House and Senate passed a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to flat-fund the government through December 22. Congressional leaders hope this stop-gap will buy them enough time to negotiate a bipartisan budget deal that raises the Defense and non-Defense (NDD) spending caps. If the budget deal (#RaisetheCaps) is finalized by the 22nd, Congress may well pass yet another short-term CR to allow a month or two to complete an FY18 omnibus spending bill based on the new, higher funding levels.

Continued momentum behind a budget deal is definitely good news, but momentum can wane; here is a new resource, culled from our state-by-state fact sheet series, that provides local examples of research need. How about making use of it to email or Tweet your representatives in Congress in support of a budget deal?

What isn’t good news is the ongoing reliance on CRs, rather than regular order, to keep the government running. One of the many reasons CRs are a bad way of doing business, particularly for grant-making agencies like NIH, AHRQ and NSF, is that they don’t just prevent budget increases (or decreases or re-allocations), they typically bar federal agencies from initiating new activities, even if doing so is the most strategic, pragmatic and cost-efficient path. In the case of NIH, for example, innovative new and promising grant proposals are in limbo, even as scientific opportunity emerges and public health issues shift. Marking time instead of making use of it to advance the best interests of Americans is an egregious form of government waste. (Learn more about CRs here.)

On to the tax package and thus to the rumor mill, which has it that the House-Senate compromise bill or “conference report” will look more like the Senate than the House version of tax reform. As the conferees continue their work, we thought it might be useful to provide a comparison of the two bills, focusing on provisions alliance members have contacted us about. Here’s a side-by-side of those provisions.

Taxation of graduate tuition waivers and other provisions related to higher education appear in the House bill only. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) is leading a congressional sign-on letter for the House and Senate in opposition to the tuition waiver provision. I encourage you to personalize and send this email to your representatives urging them to join the letter, and/or call their offices first thing in the morning to make the case! The deadline for signing on is tomorrow, December 8th at noon EST, so the sooner you weigh in, the better!

This story about Prathik Naidu, a Stanford freshman selected to present at the Nobel Awards program this weekend, connects to heart and mind about why it’s important not to change the tax code in ways that could block the path to STEM careers for so many young people like Prathik. Squandering young talent, passion, curiosity and determination is too high a price to pay for a nation committed to security, health, prosperity and global leadership.

The medical device tax repeal is not part of the tax reform package, but Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) is reportedly working on a separate, bipartisan agreement that could include another two-year suspension of the medical device tax. A repeal is better than a pause, but a pause is far better than a reinstatement of this counterproductive tax. Write your representatives and ask them to act this year to stop the tax.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaNovember 30, 2017

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley November 30, 2017

Dear Research Advocate,

Congressional leaders have reportedly negotiated a new, two-year budget deal with the White House that would raise the non-defense budget cap by about $37 billion and the defense cap by about $54 billion in FY18, and raise the FY19 caps by the same amounts. With the current continuing resolution (CR) expiring next Friday, December 8, another CR seems all but certain. The question remains whether congressional leaders will: 1) use this CR to give themselves an extra week or two to finish up negotiations on a budget deal and a subsequent omnibus package, or 2) settle on a longer CR that delays budget decisions until January, February or even later next year. A third option -- an unlikely one, thankfully -- is to do nothing and trigger a government shutdown.

The longer the delay in securing a final FY18 appropriations bill, the more our scientific infrastructure suffers as planning and budgeting for the unknown create more and more inefficiencies and waste. Members of Congress must hear from constituents that a deal is of immediate importance to the people they serve. Please take time now to visit our #RaiseTheCaps page to email, call and tweet your members of Congress; and share the page with your friends, family and social media followers.

While we have been pulling all the advocacy levers we can to urge Congress to #RaiseTheCaps, that is not the only high priority item on our year-end advocacy to-do list. Also of importance is repeal of the medical device excise tax, which is set to return in full force on January 1. While it is not included in broader tax reform, congressional leaders are considering attaching the medical device tax repeal to insurance market stabilization legislation or another legislative vehicle likely to receive a vote before year-end.

“The device tax selectively disincentivizes investment in new medical devices,” Ellie Dehoney, VP of Policy and Advocacy, explains in a Morning Consult op-ed, “It is easy to undervalue research and development because it creates potential, not certainty. R&D is not a bird in the hand. But R&D, including the R&D behind new medical devices, gives a fighting chance to [those] facing life-threatening diseases. We undervalue it at their peril.” Weigh in on this issue with your representatives in Congress!

When you boil it down to the basics, it is counterproductive to target a tax such that it discourages activity beneficial to our nation, whether that activity is R&D or higher education. A provision in the House tax reform package would treat graduate school tuition waivers as income. As MIT economics Ph.D. candidate Ryan Hill explains in a recent op-ed, “when the government taxes a good, service or activity, the economy will produce less of it.” Disincentivizing graduate education as countries like China foster it is more than shortsighted, it’s self-destructive. We signed on to a letter spearheaded by AAAS in opposition to the waiver provision; more from AAAS here.

In case you missed statements made by iconic public health leaders like Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, Dr. Paul Farmer, and Dr. Georges Benjamin last week for Public Health Thank You Day, we have compiled the full list of quotes. Additionally, we are pleased to share this statement for the record Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) submitted in honor of Public Health Thank You Day. Thanks again (there are never too many!) to our public health workforce, and to all those who joined us last week in celebrating their contribution.

Research!America, in partnership with the Society for Neuroscience, is hosting a webinar, Leveraging Public Opinion in Support of Science, next Monday, December 4, at 1:00 pm EST. The first in a series, this session will discuss public opinion surveys, describe messaging techniques, and draw on experience in crafting compelling narratives. Dr. Christopher Volpe, Executive Director of ScienceCounts, and Dr. Navneet Matharu, Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California San Francisco will join me for this discussion. I hope you will, too! Register here.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaSeptNovember 16, 2017

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley November 16, 2017

Dear Research Advocate,

Yesterday, a high energy discussion on Advocating for Basic Science in a Disease-Focused World once again revealed the strong appetite for advocacy among scientists, and young scientists in particular. The audience resonated with my point that “you can’t outsource advocacy,” and many were inspired to tweet on the spot.

In case you doubt the impact of scientists engaging in advocacy, consider this: Research!America’s Board Chair, former Congressman (R-DE) and Governor Mike Castle, was recently interviewed by the Society for Neuroscience: “Scientists deepened my understanding of the promise of embryonic stem cell research during a time when there was huge opposition in Congress and the White House for federal support of such research. This interaction led to the development of bipartisan legislation introduced by me and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) in 2005 that expanded federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.”

To drive more bipartisan support for science, and in the process give scientists and friends of science a way to engage in timely advocacy, Research!America and many partners across the broad science community teamed up on a joint print and digital ad campaign to urge Congress to pass a deal that raises the budget caps. The ads were published this week in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Examiner, The Weekly Standard, Politico, and other media outlets. The ads make science much more visible and top of mind as congress weighs key public priorities.

Complementing the #RaisetheCaps ad campaign is a letter making the case for a budget deal from the leaders of science-focused organizations to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and his counterparts in congressional leadership. The campaign may be getting the attention of decision-makers: according to an article in The Hill today, there is growing support for a two-year budget deal to raise the caps! Research!America has also made the case in an op-ed in the Huffington Post and an LTE in the St. Louis Post Dispatch; and our partners are active on social media. There is so much power in numbers -- please do your part by taking action now.

Today, the House passed its tax package largely along party lines (227-205); the plan is for the Senate Finance Committee’s tax package to be on floor after Thanksgiving. Research!America signed on to a letter led by AAAS expressing our concern about provisions in the House bill that would have a negative impact on academic researchers, and by extension, on science and all of us. Earlier today, Research!America held a special alliance members meeting with tax experts Robert Bradner, Nicole Elliott and Kathleen Nilles from Holland & Knight to discuss the House and Senate bills and their possible impact on many aspects of R&D. We’ll send a recap shortly!

Tax reform will surely impact future R&D investments. Where those investments stand now, and insights on trends, are addressed in our just-released annual Investment Report. Despite an uptick across sectors, investments in research have been essentially stagnant when viewed as a percentage of total U.S. health spending. Medical and health R&D accounts for less than 5 cents of each health dollar. If we expect to make progress in finding solutions to a growing list of challenges to health and our economy, we have to do better than that. Read more in the new report.

We hosted a stellar briefing on Capitol Hill yesterday, showcasing the power of a well-functioning research continuum working to address Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and underscoring that this high burden, high cost illness simply does not receive the attention it deserves and requires. The briefing was followed by an opportunity for the audience to engage in an exercise (literally) that imparts a sense of what it is like to live with COPD. It proved a powerful awareness and advocacy tool.

Another health threat that receives less attention than it calls for is antibiotic resistance. The White House has announced a renewed commitment to implementing the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. We will soon release (and will share here) a factsheet on this challenge, which poses a significant threat to our children and future generations.

Please join us on social media for Public Health Thank You Day (PHTYD) this coming Monday, November 20th. The outpouring of enthusiasm we’ve witnessed in the four week run up is a preview to what we anticipate on PHTYD: thousands of kudos delivered to the men and women who underpin our nation’s health security. The bipartisan co-chairs of the Congressional Public Health Caucus, Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Kay Granger (R-TX), Gene Green (D-TX), and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), have introduced a PHTYD resolution. Please urge your Representatives to cosponsor by contacting Rep. McGovern’s office at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This is the time for all hands on deck advocacy to assure that the draconian caps on federal discretionary spending are lifted. “Sequestration” budget caps established under the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA) will come back into full force after a partial, two year reprieve. If Congress does not lift the spending caps again, science is in trouble. And that means finding solutions to what ails us, which are dependent on research and innovation, is also in trouble. Our initiative to raise the caps is designed to give you advocacy tools to weigh in with members of Congress to help guarantee they are hearing from their constituents that the status quo is in fact not okay. Read more.

From Research!AmericaSeptember 21, 2017

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley September 21, 2017

Dear Research Advocate,

Last Friday, I attended the 2017 Lasker Awards luncheon. The awards program honors the legacy of Mary Lasker, who once crisply noted: “If you think research is expensive, try disease!” I was struck by Lasker Laureate John Schiller’s provocative observation in his acceptance remarks that ensuring the “nurturing stream” of a robust science infrastructure may be more important than celebrating outstanding individual scientists. I take his point and am glad there is room to celebrate both, and it is certainly true to Mary Lasker’s legacy that our community advocates for both -- for the institutions and policies and funding that make science possible, and for the individuals and partnerships that work to give us all better health and quality of life.

One way Research!America drives advocacy is through our public opinion surveys. In a recent survey, we noted that ‘lack of trust’ has become less of a barrier to clinical trial participation, particularly among minority populations. Also, majorities of African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians and non-Hispanic whites say they would participate in a trial if recommended by their doctor. We must work together to build even more trust and help drive participation in clinical trials among all segments of the population.

An advocate’s work is never done! Despite its proven return to members of our military, their families (who in a very real sense are also members of our military), and taxpayers across the nation, medical research conducted through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) at the Department of Defense (DoD) has been placed at risk by the Senate-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Blunt (R-MO) attempted, but were unable, to block Senator McCain (R-AZ) on this point. A final bill still needs to be conferenced (negotiated) with the House. We need all hands on deck to convince the appointed negotiators or “conferees” to reject the damaging restrictions in the Senate legislation when they craft the final bill. Check out next week’s message for a letter template; we hope you will make use of it to help protect life-saving research!

Very much in the news, the Senate HELP Committee has abandoned an effort to craft a bipartisan bill that would shore up the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the chances are growing that the controversial “Cassidy-Graham” replacement bill will secure enough Republican votes to pass Congress. Cassidy-Graham is controversial for a number of reasons, one of which is that it would repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF). Research!America sent a letter to Senate leadership reiterating our opposition to ending this common sense fund. With hurricane season and its numerous public health challenges upon us, it makes far more sense to increase the PPHF than to even contemplate -- much less pursue -- its elimination. Use this 2017 action alert to make your voice heard.

Two good reads: FBR President Matthew Bailey’s Wall Street Journal article on the importance of animal research, framed from the vantage point of pet owners, and an article about speeding medical progress by Dr. Mikael Dolsten, President of Worldwide Research & Development at Pfizer. Dr. Dolsten shares how he has been inspired by the Biden Cancer Moonshot’s goal to achieve ten years of progress in five. Dolsten writes, “In that spirit, I am challenging us all to think about what a decade’s worth of progress in half the time could mean – not just in cancer research, but in battling every single disease that’s plaguing society, and devastating patients and families around the world.” It is a worthy goal; accomplishing it means we all need to push for eliminating barriers to progress and raising more voices and more resources to support research and innovation.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaSeptember 6, 2017

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley September 6, 2017

Dear Research Advocate,

Earlier today, the Senate Labor-H Appropriations Subcommittee, the jurisdiction of which includes NIH, CDC and AHRQ, passed their FY18 bill out of subcommittee, to be considered by the full committee tomorrow. For the third year in a row, Chairman Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) put together a bipartisan bill, and despite difficult budgetary conditions, included a $2 billion increase for NIH. We are hopeful for good news about CDC and AHRQ, too, but we must wait for the bill text to be released to know for sure. Stay tuned.

We truly appreciate the Subcommittee’s ongoing support for NIH. Unfortunately, we have more work to do. All of the appropriations bills making their way through the House and Senate are premised on achieving some kind of budget deal. (The House bills assume a ‘cap-busting’ overall defense budget, and the Senate bills bust both defense and nondefense caps.)

If signed into law without a deal to raise the caps, these appropriations bills would trigger a “sequestration” (in this context, “sequestration” means an across-the-board budget cut. The term is also used to signify a reduction in the budget caps...believe me, I know how confusing this is.) The bottom line is that without a bipartisan budget deal, science funding will at best stagnate, and could well shrink. We can't let that happen.

Congress and the President are reportedly coalescing around the idea of adding a short term continuing resolution (CR) and debt ceiling relief to the Hurricane Harvey emergency supplemental. While this news is still fresh and in flux, I would say the odds are good that Congress will take this path. This approach makes sense given the long list of action items on the agenda for Fall. While a CR is far from ideal, it does provide breathing room for Congress to negotiate a bipartisan budget deal. We have to keep our eye on that ball.

As I write this, Research!America Chairman, Governor Michael Castle, and Research!America Board Member and AAAS President, Dr. Rush Holt, are making the case for a budget deal with key Members of Congress, including Sen. Murray and Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA-15). Join us in fighting for a budget deal by taking part in two digital days of action to #RaiseTheCaps, on September 11 and 12. It’s easy! Here’s how.

As I think about tomorrow’s Forum and the opportunity it presents to engage a diversity of individuals who contribute so meaningfully to research and public health, I am reminded of the thousands of people who continue to bear the brunt of Harvey, and countless others in the path of Irma. It is a privilege to advocate for work that helps people rebuild, literally and figuratively, when times are at their toughest. Thank you for what you do everyday, whether in the path of danger or safe but willing and eager, nonetheless, to help those who are.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaAugust 24, 2017

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley August 24, 2017

Dear Research Advocate,

The Total Solar Eclipse of 2017, was not only riveting, it was a reminder that Americans are as enraptured as ever by science. The challenge is not to convince the public that scientific exploration is meaningful, it is to convince them that scientific exploration is at risk.

Which brings me back, inevitably, to the federal budget. When they return from August recess, members of Congress face formidable budget challenges: to prevent default, they need to raise the debt limit. To prevent a government shutdown, they need to pass an FY18 budget bill. There are only 12 days in September when both houses of Congress are in session, and President Trump needs to sign these bills (or a combined bill) by September 30. To complicate matters, he is threatening to force a government shutdown if Congress doesn’t fund the border wall.

Congress is also under pressure to stabilize the individual insurance market by shoring up the ACA (Obamacare), a tightrope walk that has the feel of impossibility, but is fast becoming an imperative.

But that’s not all, or it won’t be if advocates push hard enough. As I have asserted in every letter for many weeks now, Congress must raise the FY18 budget caps or science funding will falter. There is no room under the current caps for advancing our nation’s strategic interests; there isn’t even enough room for stasis. The 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA), which put these caps in place, is a drag on our nation. Here is Center on Budget and Policy Priorities-produced background on the BCA that reinforced my determination to help untether our nation from the law’s outdated and out-of-touch strictures.

For inspiration, here’s an op-ed Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) penned about the importance of NIH. He writes “...we should make certain we continue to prioritize medical research and its ability to save lives tomorrow through today’s investments.” If the caps stay in place and the government shuts down, we will save fewer lives tomorrow.

Nor would the present would be well served. An article in today’s New York Times about the reemergence of syphilis drives that point home. Consider the federal health care dollars our nation saves because CDC-supported health departments undertake the laborious, thankless job of tracing and containing infections like this one.

Another example: the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project forecasts 16 named storms and eight hurricanes this season (science at work). And according to a recently released public survey, Americans fear natural disasters more -- actually far more -- than other broad-scale threats. It is always a mistake to shut down the government, but it is hard to imagine worse timing than hurricane season.

First responders like CDC are already grossly underfunded, in part because we take for granted the essential functions they fulfill, and in part because of the budget caps. But to let their budgets lapse altogether…

Advocacy isn’t discretionary.

Join our digital push to #RaiseTheCaps a two-day, concerted effort to convince Congress that a bipartisan budget deal is imperative. Mark your calendars for September 11 and 12, and keep an eye on our Facebook page, Twitter, and website for more info.

One final advocacy option: if you didn’t get a chance last week, urge your congressional delegation to champion repeal of the medical device tax. The lifesaving role these technologies play in cardiovascular care alone justifies removing a disincentive to their development.

When it comes to medical and public health progress, where is the road taking us? Are we even on the right one? What is a reasonable “endpoint?” How, and how quickly, can we reach it? At our 2017 National Health Research Forum on September 7 at the Newseum, we’ll be taking a critical look at the path we’re on and where we are on it. RSVP today and join the discussion!

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaAugust 10, 2017

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley August 10, 2017

Dear Research Advocate,

This afternoon I participated in a stimulating forum on “Transformational Imperatives,” hosted by the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Board members and friends of the Institute engaged speakers on topics of the moment; in fact, my presentation was all about the moment, i.e., “Research in Context.” Scientific opportunities can be enabled or derailed by our elected representatives, who determine funding and policies-- which is to say, a major part of the ‘context’ of research. While they don’t do their decision-making in a vacuum, it can seem like that, especially when scientists and all of us who want scientists to succeed, sooner rather than later, fail to speak up.

Many members of Congress are hearing what is top of mind for their constituents during the August recess. Are they hearing about making medical research a higher priority? I urge you to engage with your representatives one-on-one or at a town hall (check out upcoming in-district events)-- speak up for science! In a recent op-ed, Sen. Coons (D-DE) urged the scientific community-- and by extension advocates for science-- to action, “...don’t just publish your research-- publicize it. Scientists simply can’t be silent, or else science truly will be silenced.”

There are some disturbing threats to science right now. You likely share concerns expressed last week about the reemerging (although it is never out of sight) threat to fetal tissue and stem cell research. Potential cuts and changes to indirect costs also place research in the crosshairs and threaten to shutter labs across the nation. In addition, the “Homeland Security Minibus,” which funds 4 of the 12 appropriations bills (Defense, Energy-Water, Legislative Branch and Military Construction-VA) includes a troubling amendment that bans funding for research using dogs at the VA. We have a responsibility to those suffering from deadly and disabling diseases-- including those who have served our country and who now look to the VA for hope-- to put every avenue of research to work to find solutions. Here are some resources on fetal tissue, indirect costs and animal research to help you navigate these critically important conversations.

In order to achieve sustained, robust federal funding support for research, we must keep up the drum beat for a bipartisan budget deal. Send a message to your representatives to make the case. My Wall Street Journal letter-to-the-editor in response to an op-ed by Sen. Cotton (R-AR), who calls for the repeal of the Budget Control Act of 2011, ending the boom and bust cycle that “cripples the military’s planning ability,” makes the point that budget caps are also having a crippling effect on the nation’s scientific research enterprise. Join us in urging Congress to #RaiseTheCaps.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaJuly 27, 2017

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley July 27, 2017

Dear Research Advocate,

In a week with lots of mixed signals on health care, we released new survey data that shows a striking increase in public support for empowering patients (and we are all patients!) to participate in clinical trials. A strong majority say joining a clinical trial is as valuable as donating blood. And a new question shows the public would value providers discussing clinical trials as a routine part of health care. These findings come just as NIH’s “All of Us” initiative launches a new grant program to encourage enrollment in the ambitious one million-enrollee clinical research effort.

Read more about our survey, and plan to attend our National Health Research Forum in Washington, D.C., on September 7 to hear more on this and other research-relevant topics!

Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bill with $7.3 billion for NSF, which is a cut of 2% from fiscal year 2017. According to CJS Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), that would mean 456 fewer grants, cutting support for 5,000 researchers, students teachers and technicians. As Senator Shaheen stated:“This legislation should do more to invest in infrastructure, science, and law enforcement, which is why Congress must approve a new budget deal that provides the necessary resources for both military and domestic programs.”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (and again and again): To support priorities like science, education and health, as well as defense, we must have a budget deal to lift the FY18 sequestration budget caps. Better yet, instead of revisiting the caps every couple of years, Congress could repeal the bill that established them: the 2011 Balanced Budget Act. Read Senator Cotton’s (R-AR) op-ed calling for repeal, then write your own. We’ll help! Contact Anna at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Meanwhile, as in previous years, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) inserted language into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would choke off crucial DoD funding for medical and health research. (Did you know that DOD funding enabled Dr. Dennis Slamon to develop the miracle drug Herceptin? This language would stop that kind of progress.) Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) have drafted an amendment to prevent the McCain provisions from taking effect. Read our letter thanking these stalwart research champions, as well as one to all Senators asking them to support the Durbin/Blunt amendment. Then take a moment to reinforce this with your Senators.

In regulatory news, it appears the Senate will not pass the Food and Drug Reauthorization Act (FDARA) before the end of July. FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who will be joining us at our Forum on September 7, has indicated that he fully expects Congress to pass FDARA before the current user fee agreements expire on September 30, thus avoiding the need for layoffs. We’ll continue to keep a close watch and provide advocacy opportunities as needed!

Finally, our friends at FASEB are hosting a timely webinar to equip science advocates to act locally, capitalizing on the August congressional recess to make the case for robust science funding. In solidarity with FASEB’s intent, I spoke last evening to a group of vascular biologists from across the nation about the importance of speaking to their members of Congress in August. It's important to overcome the “invisibility” of science and scientists, which is holding back more robust support for science. One of several good questions came from a researcher whose own member of Congress is already a great champion -- my advice is (1) it's never superfluous to say thank you, and (2) think about someone you know who lives in another part of the country -- perhaps somewhere that is less “science intensive” -- and ask them to connect with their member of Congress. Please get involved; find a way to make a difference in August.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaJuly 13, 2017

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley July 13, 2017

Dear Research Advocate,

Former Congressman John Porter, Research!America’s esteemed Chair Emeritus, does not mince words in his Washington Post LTE today, cautioning against state-level education policies that could be misused to subvert science education. Treating knowledge that has been affirmed by years of scientific exploration as negotiable jeopardizes our nation’s ability to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities before us. It is a path to decline rather than progress. We cannot afford to shy away from straight talk about misguided policies. Fortunately for our nation, John never does.

This afternoon, the House Labor-H Subcommittee, formerly chaired by Mr. Porter, “marked up” its appropriations bill. Given that the subcommittee was working with total funding $5-$7+ billion below the FY17 level -- depending on how you do the math -- it is striking that the bill provides NIH an increase of $1.1 billion (inclusive of Cures funding), cuts AHRQ funding, but doesn’t eliminate it (as previous House bills have), and sustains the NIH Fogarty International Center, refuting the president’s budget. Alarmingly though, CDC would receive a $200 million cut and there is language in the bill to impose new restrictions on fetal tissue research.

It is fair to be both appreciative of this legislation -- especially the leadership of Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) -- and concerned about the distance between this bill and the investment actually needed to protect and advance health. See our statement.

As Harvard President Dr. Drew Faust eloquently conveyed in her recent alumni letter, the long-standing partnership between the federal government and universities is a driving force behind medical progress. The Labor-H subcommittee took a stand on behalf of this partnership by including language in the bill that would prevent the Administration from advancing the 10% indirect costs cap included in the president’s FY18 budget proposal.

That’s not to say this issue has been put to rest - far from it. First, the indirect cost language in this bill -- like the bill as a whole -- remains a proposal until signed into law. Second, the House is planning to explore the indirects issue more closely this Fall. In an LTE this week, Former House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert observes that “Research does not get cheaper if you leave [indirect] costs out; it just becomes less likely to get undertaken at all.” Exactly the straight talk that is called for! Compelling op-eds by university leadership in Illinois and Florida echo this message. A community sign-on letter on indirect costs is currently circulating-- email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to include your organization.

Objecting to the counter-productive sequestration constraints appropriators face this year, 20 House Republicans sent a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) last week encouraging a budget deal to raise the FY18 sequestration caps. Our sign-on letter, with over 200 organizational signatories, reinforces the call for Congress to #RaiseTheCaps. Keep the drumbeat going by sending a message to your representatives! (In case you’re wondering, it is entirely possible to raise the caps after the appropriations committees act; in fact, the annual appropriations process was well underway before the last two budget deals were signed into law.)

Adding to the House’s busy week: the full chamber passed the FDA User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2017 (FDARA). The Senate has yet to act. The Trump Administration issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) on the bill that reflects some concerns, but reportedly none that would lead to a veto. Make sure to tweet House and Senate Leaders, thanking the former and urging the latter to pass the bill ASAP!

Speaking of urgent issues, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine released a report this afternoon recommending actions to overcome the opioid crisis. FDA has weighed in with plans to modify the risk/benefit calculation they use when evaluating pain medications, and CDC released a new Vital Signs report with key facts and resources to promote responsible opioid prescribing practices. Check out our new fact sheet on the pivotal role research is playing as our nation intensifies its response to this threat.

Ending on positive note: HHS Secretary Price has appointed Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, obstetrician-gynecologist and former Georgia public health commissioner to serve as CDC Director. Dr. Fitzgerald brings a wealth of experience to this crucially important post.

Sincerely,

Mary Woolley President and CEO Research!America

From Research!AmericaJune 1, 2017

Letter from Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley June 1, 2017

Dear Research Advocate,

Word of a plan to pass an FY18 omnibus bill in the House by the end of July has surfaced. The plan would require the House to rapidly draft, mark up and stitch together 12 appropriations bills. If House leadership takes this route, it is unclear what overall budget numbers they would work from; rumor has it they may adhere relatively closely to the “sequestration” budget caps established in 2011. Ironically, that would be significantly better than the president’s budget but, as I discussed last week, far worse than what is needed: an agreement to raise the caps and permit more budget flexibility. Call your members of Congress to make the case; and follow up with a message.

The opioid epidemic is one of the major challenges that clearly call for more research and underscore the importance of more budget flexibility to help make that research possible. In an op-ed co-authored by NIH Director Francis Collins and National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow, NIH announced a joint effort with industry to help accelerate the pace of novel overdose-reversal and prevention methods. Tying their hands now via an inadequate budget is in no one’s best interest.

Research not only brings benefits to the nation writ large -- including driving the innovation needed to combat the opioid epidemic -- but also brings benefits close to home. In a joint op-ed, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and University of New Hampshire President Mark Huddleston write: “Here in the Granite State, federally funded research has given birth to cutting-edge companies, addressed threats to key sectors of our economy and saved lives with new cures.” Are you interested in penning an op-ed about the impact of research in your state? Consult our newly completed state-by-state fact sheets for local stats and contact Anna Briseno () if we can help.

A topic that has been top of mind for many is expenditures variously termed “indirect costs,” “overhead,” and “facilities and administration.” These include specially purposed laboratory space, utilities, disposal of hazardous waste, compliance with a broad range of regulations, and other essential aspects of conducting and administering research. The President’s budget proposes a drastic reduction in reimbursement for these costs and hearings on the topic are ongoing. This is a complicated issue; I am pleased to announce a Research!America alliance members call next Thursday (6/8) at 2 p.m. ET that will feature two top experts on the topic: Jennifer Poulakidas, VP of Congressional and Government Affairs at APLU and Toby Smith, Vice President for Policy at AAU. Members can get call-in information by emailing Jacqueline Lagoy at . In the interim, check out AAU’s FAQs on the topic.

Statement by Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley on President Trump’s FY18 Budget ProposalMay 23, 2017

The president’s proposed FY18 budget is an imbalanced, heavy-handed approach to bolstering national defense at the expense of other American priorities, including the research and innovation crucial to national security. Instead of weakening our nation with this approach, we urge the 115th Congress to negotiate a bipartisan budget deal that will ensure that both defense and non-defense priorities are sufficiently funded. While labeled as ‘discretionary,’ research and innovation supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration strengthen our nation’s security and economic prosperity. Consistently, surveys show how highly Americans rank securing better health and quality of life; the president’s blueprint is tone-deaf to that reality. Steep funding cuts for the federal health agencies are counterproductive at a time when innovative research is moving us closer to identifying solutions for rare diseases, new prevention strategies to protect Americans from deadly and costly conditions, advances in gene therapy, new technologies for understanding the brain, and treatments that harness the ability of our immune system to fight cancer. Health services research, supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, is folded into NIH in the budget proposal, but funding is far below what’s needed to combat deadly errors and costly inefficiencies in our health care system.Congress recognizes the urgency in keeping research for health at the forefront of national priorities, as it has signaled with back-to-back, significant increases for the NIH in FY16 and FY17. Strong bipartisan support for research must continue in FY18, and at the same time, Congress should act to lift the budget caps that threaten to hamstring non-defense discretionary appropriations. To seize this opportunity in medical and health research and innovation, and address the twin specters of disease and ever-rising health care costs held over every family and the nation as a whole, we must urge our congressional representatives to step up. Chairmen Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), and Ranking Members Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) are among those to be specially commended for their ongoing leadership and commitment to protecting the health of Americans.###For current estimates on how the proposed FY18 budget could impact medical and health research agencies, visit http://bit.ly/2qdxXiJ.

From FASEBMay 10, 2017

Webinar: The Trump Budget: How scientists can fight proposed cuts to NIH

The Trump Administration proposed deep cuts in funding for the federal science agencies in 2018. Congress is now considering the President's proposal. Jennifer Zeitzer, Director of Legisative Affairs, and Benjamin Krinsky, Senior Legislative Affairs Officer, will provide an overview of the recommended cuts, the timeline and key steps involved in the federal budget process, and guidance on what individual scientists can do to urge lawmakers to reject the President’s plan.

From the Coalition for Life SciencesMay 8, 2017

The week of May 1, Congress introduced and passed an Omnibus Appropriations bill that funds the federal government and its various programs for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17). The Omnibus bill provides:

A $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health for a total funding level of $34 billion.

A $9 million increase for the National Science Foundation for a total of $7.5 billion.

A$22 million increase for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a total of $6.3 billion.

FDA was roughly flat funded for a $2.76 billion funding level for FY17. This number doesn’t include anticipated user fees.

Now is the time to thank your Member of Congress for his/her support. The CLS has a letter found here that you can use or edit to automatically send to your elected official.

You could also utilize social media to reach your elected official. Here are some sample tweets:

@RepSmith thank you for your steadfast leadership and support for @NIH.

@RepJohnson thank you supporting the Omnibus that provided increases for life science research.

@RepJones thank you for supporting important @NIH funding critical to saving lives and growing our economy.

@RepMoran my work relies on @NIH funding. Thank you for your continued support.

It is evident, the voice of scientists are heard on Capitol Hill. Advocacy matters. Your elected leaders do respond, but now you must thank them for hearing you. Thank you for your time, efforts, and advocacy. We are all in this together.

From Research!AmericaMay 5, 2017

Review the May/June Research Advocate here. Please note the call for action to encourage Congress to increase the FY 2018 NIH Budget.

From Research!AmericaMay 4, 2017

Excerpts from letter from Mary Woolley, R!A Executive Officer - Research funding: After months and months of hard work by Congress and advocates, an FY17 appropriations deal providing a $2 billion increase for NIH and modest increases for NSF and FDA is on track to become law. While the news is not 100% positive (e.g. CDC received a cut, as did AHRQ), the headline is that Congress neither defaulted to flat-funding under a long-term CR nor acquiesced to OMB’s request for additional budget cuts. This is real-time evidence that advocacy works! See our statement and budget chart, and this terrific analysis by Matt Hourihan of AAAS.

I urge you to tweet or otherwise contact congressional and appropriations leaders to recognize their incredible efforts on this bill. Saying thank you is so important; don’t outsource it! Do it yourself.

FY18: The House “New Democrat” coalition sent a letter to House Republican leaders encouraging them to focus on six key policy areas in FY18. Two of the six: scientific research funded by agencies such as NSF and DARPA, and a $40 billion budget for NIH. In addition, Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) are circulating a letter asking their Senate colleagues to join them in requesting robust NIH funding in FY18. Urge your Senators to sign on.

Dr. Jane Lubchenco, former Administrator of NOAA and Distinguished University Professor and Adviser at Oregon State University, received the National Academy of Science’s most prestigious award, the Public Welfare Medal. Jane’s speech was extraordinary; I urge you to take a few minutes to listen to her remarks (begins at 1:19:00). What particularly resonated was her call for scientists to “provide hope.” She beautifully articulated how important it is for every scientist to learn, and work, to change hearts and minds for science.